All right, how many of you read that title in Jeff Foxworthy’s voice? How many of you already finished the sentence? How many of you have no idea what I’m talking about? (Sweet Jesus in heaven, you people give me hope for our future.)
The “You might be a redneck if…” comedy act was all the rage in 1993. It was funny the first dozen times or so but then the bloom was off the rose. For me, anyway. Some folks think that’s snobbery; I think the topic had a limited lifespan since it basically involves laughing at an entire group of people. Then again, the man’s built a career out of this act so what do I know, right?
At any rate, it hit me over the weekend that the premise is worth exploring.
You might be a dog owner if:
- you keep a lint roller in every room, under the kitchen sink, by the key bowl, and in your glove compartment.
- you can’t understand why people own parakeets.
- you have no problem pulling dog hair off a stranger in the store.
- you buy clothing based on your furry friend’s color.
- your google search history includes “how to clean up dog vomit,” “how to clean up dog poop,” “my dog just ate soap/plastic/tin foil/a Brillo pad,” “how to induce vomiting in dogs,” or “am I the reason my dog is 30% overweight?”
You might be a teacher if:
- you have the countdown until Thanksgiving break, Winter break, and Spring break posted on your fridge.
- your filing system includes “stuff I used four years ago and might need again,” “stuff the teacher down the hall passed me that I haven’t gone through yet,” and “stuff I’ve never used but could conceivably need if the school suddenly lost all electricity, pencils, resources, or we were trapped by a building collapse.”
- you buy shoes based on how quickly they’ll get you to the bathroom during your 90 second pee break.
- you spend your summer researching creative and engaging educational activities only to learn on August 3rd they’ve moved you to another grade level.
- you spend seven hours a day speaking aloud with a running five second delay to bleep yourself as needed.
You might be parenting a teen if:
- each morning brings delightful anticipation of which personality will enter your kitchen.
- the first twenty minutes after they leave are spent on pins and needles, waiting to see who will call panicked because they’ve forgotten their homework/lunch/permission slip/report card, railing that their life will be ruined f-o-r-e-v-e-r if you won’t bring said item to the school for them.
- plans change, then change again, then change three more times before you’re all “ENOUGH! I’M OUT!” at which point they’re shocked you’re so inflexible.
- you enjoy a brief moment of gratification when your teen notices a younger kid showing their ass then realize you can’t smack them upside the head as they comment, “But I was never that bad.”
- you have a group in the car when one comments “I smell b.o.” and then there’s a rousing round of discovering the source.
You might be hosting Thanksgiving dinner if:
- you realize you have three days to buy all the ingredients you’ve forgotten without losing your mind at the grocery store.
- you’re also struck by the fact that you have three days to make your house presentable, and three and a half to threaten your children and dogs with an untimely demise if they destroy it before everyone comes over.
- you find yourself triaging house conditions – cobwebs have to go, but does the office really have to be clean? or just presentable enough to open the doors?
- while clearing out the fridge for leftovers you find a sad lemon, two random tacos, and expired yogurt.
- you begin to wonder if you’re secretly a hoarder because there is no way this house will ever get clean with ALL THIS CRAP EVERYWHERE.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Welcome to the end of November, my friends, when the neighbors have begun putting up Christmas decorations and I’m wondering if Gracie will attack exuberantly love on any of our guests this year.
HAHAHA This is superb. I think you’ve just inspired a post. (I’ll tag you in it) All so true and all so hilarious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A high compliment, thank you! Looking forward to yours. I think we’ve all got a bunch of these… 🙂
LikeLike
Great post. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahahaha! Dog owner: check. Thing is… all of those Google searches are immediately turned into bookmarks in case I need them again. Dog hair: not much with Schnauzers. Teenagers: mine just turned 26, but I DO relate to and remember the “which personality/alien being are you today/this minute” scenario.
Not a teacher=thankful. Not hosting Thanksgiving- I have other masochistic tendencies though.
Here’s wishing you a bowl of your favorite ice cream, a warm fuzzy blanket and your favorite movie as your reward after this week!
Soldier on girl, soldier on! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Got that warm fuzzy blanket, now I just need to lay in some ice cream (and hide it from the kids)…
We will survive!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah yes – You might be a redneck –
I’m definitely a dog owner. Dog hair is a condiment in my house, and I do not charge for it – because she’s a white lab. So I avoid black. Of course.
I’m not a teacher, but I have the same filing system.
Fortunately my teens did grow up.
Rooms have doors for a reason, so my pre-Thanksgiving dinner cleaning can be selective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m infinitely stubborn and refuse to give up black or gray despite the fact that both my dogs shed like they get paid for it and they both have light hair. This of course means I’m keeping the lint roller companies in business. Don’t say I never did anything to help the economy. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my! I am a dog owner by half, and a parent of teens to the max, and I relate also to the hosting of Thanksgiving — right to the expired yogurt! It’s only about half a cup left in the container, could someone really not finish it?!? Bah.
I deep clean this time of year, with a focus on the kitchen cupboards and oven. While I pare down and toss all year, this week is one of my more productive times. I don’t want ANY extra stuff to look at or handle or deal with over the holiday weekend. Very coffee, much pajamas, little out and about!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Holy crap, you DEEP CLEAN right now? I feel like my brain’s exploding just juggling the normal stuff. Turns out I entirely forgot about a cake I have to take next Saturday and quite possibly might have forgotten it entirely if hubby’s sister hadn’t mentioned it yesterday. It will be a freaking miracle if we get through the weekend without burning the house down.
Oh, and I’m beyond jealous that you’re gonna have clean cabinets…
LikeLiked by 1 person
DO NOT forget the cake. Someone like me is counting on that cake, Laura 😛
I do deep clean now. Which reminds me — tonight, the oven. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person